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Friday, February 1, 2013

My First-Books Panel Speech

As
I mentioned yesterday, I was on the First Books Panel at the FL SCBWI Miami
event. Below is the text of the speech I presented.

When
I turned fifty, I was determined to follow my dream and become a picture book
author. Some of my friends thought it was another hobby I was taking up for a
few months or maybe a year, and that it would quickly pass. Others thought I
was in a mid-life crisis, just with Fancy Nancy instead of fancy cars. They
nodded their heads and gave each other the it-will-pass-soon-enough look. But
this wasn’t a mid-life crisis, this was my dream. And I was determined to follow
it. No matter what.

But
some people did believe in me and my dream. My sister gifted me with a
writing boot camp in Southern California with Linda Arms White and Laura
Backas—complete with airfare and hotel. Soon I joined SCBWI and started
attending regional meetings in Florida where I met other believers. I met Lisa
Wheeler who immediately became a mentor and frequent critiquer. Then I met
Joyce Sweeney, who took me under her wings and pushed me to the edge of my
writing nest saying, “You can fly. Really you can. I believe you can. At least I’m
pretty sure you can. Go on. Fly.”

Two
years after my fiftieth birthday, I finally built up enough nerve and savings
to fly to the opposite coast again, and to attend SCBWI, LA. I also paid for a
manuscript consultation. Because if you’re going to go broke, you might as well
go all the way.

After
lots of rejection letters¸ this conference was important to me. I wanted to meet
industry professionals, learn more about my writing craft, and hopefully land a
book deal. But I soon learned there were a few doubters at the conference and
every one of them found me. Helpful as they tried to be, these conference veterans
were quick to point out my naiveté.

“Tell
me about your story?” one woman asked as I waited for my consultation.

“It’s
about cowboys,” I answered.

“Cowboys,”
she repeated. “I’m not sure anyone is looking for cowboy stories any more. That
sounds a little dated to me. But tell me about the main character.”

“Well,
there are three cowboys . . .”

“Three?
You have three main characters? That’s not what we do in picture books. We
have one main character. These cowboys are children, right?”

When
I told her that I had a critique scheduled and really hoped it would lead to
something concrete, she said, “Book deals never happen at conferences. Just
listen and learn all you can during your consultation. That’s all you can hope
for.”

There’s
one thing you have to understand about me—I’m a Midwesterner. And Midwesterners
follow rules. So this conversation had my mind reeling. But I believed in my
story almost as much as I believed in my dream (and I am nothing if not polite),
so I continued to answer the conference veteran’s questions and to listen to
her responses: The characters names? Oh,
dear, alliterated names are discouraged in the industry. The setting? The prairie wouldn’t give the illustrator
much to illustrate, now would it. The plot? A Christmas story is the kiss of death. They have such a short selling
season. Publishers hate holidays. Each cowboy tells a story within
the story? Sounds like sub-plots. That’s
too complex for a picture book.

When
the time came for my manuscript consultation, I entered the room timidly and walked
to my assigned table where a big-time editor from a big-time New York City publisher
sat. (She was Diane Muldrow from Golden Books/Random House). Remember your dream, I told myself as I
extended my hand. But mostly I remembered the conference veteran’s comments. The
editor shook my hand and greeted me warmly.

“Tell
me about your story,” she said.

I
took a breath. “It’s about cowboys,” I said. I braced myself for her reaction.

“My
father and grandfather were cowboys in New Mexico,” she replied. “I love
cowboys. I’ve read your story and love it, too.”

The
consultation continued and the editor gave me tips for revision and hints for
developing the story further. At the end of the meeting she handed me her card.
“I never give out my card, but I want to see this story again. Revise it based
on our conversation and send it to me—no promises. We’ll see where things go.”

Two
weeks later, I mailed the revised manuscript. Two months later I signed a
contract with that big-time editor from the big-time New York City publisher. Two
years later, my first picture book, COWBOY CHRISTMAS, was released. It’s a
story about cowboys. And about believing.

The
last few months have been busy ones. I’ve done book signings, school visits,
story read alouds, blog interviews, my book was reviewed in the New York Times, and more. At one of my
first book signings at the University of Florida Harn Museum of Art, a mother
and her two sons approached the table. “We checked out your book from our
library and have read it eight nights in a row,” the mom reported. I asked the boys,
“What was your favorite part?” The older brother responded with a shrug, “It’s
about cowboys and Christmas.”

My
last book signing in December was in my home town, Springfield, Missouri. You
know it’s going to be a good day when thirty of your aunts, uncles, and cousins
show up along with your home church pastor, your youth minister (from when you
were a youth), and tons of old friends, their children, and grandchildren. And
you know it’s going to be a spectacular day when you see your third grade teacher
in line for an autograph. Thanks, Mrs. Henley.

The
last two years have been busy, too. I landed an agent—Rubin Pfeffer. We met at
an SCBWI, Orlando, event. We signed a two-book deal with HarperCollins. And
there’s even talk of another book about those cowboys. I’ve been encouraged along
the way by members of my two critique groups—PB&J (my face-to-face group in
Tampa Bay) and PBs-R-Us (my online group) and I am indebted to my mentors,
Joyce Sweeney and Lisa Wheeler.

Hi Rob, thanks for sharing. I'm a little teary-eyed reading your story. I love that you didn't give up on your vision. We Midwesterners ARE rule-followers (I'm from Michigan) so it's tough to block out the "noise" sometimes. Congratulations on your current and future books!

Very inspirational! I enjoyed hearing your story. I love that you believed in your story. I started out older than you and sent a rhyming (Oh no!), Christmas (Oh no!) manuscript as my entry for the Barbara Karlin Grant last year. But, despite the "rhyming" and the "Christmas" part, I love my story. I was named runner up. Your post gave me an extra boost as I continue on my journey. I only wish I could've heard it in person. Thanks, Rob!

Rob, your story literally made me tear up. I have had many people step on my dream of becoming a children's book author. I waited more than 40 years to have the courage to follow my dream. Now, two years since I told myself it's okay to dream, I have a portfolio of my PB stories and a number of agents guaranteed to look at my work this year. I don't mind the work involved...just so long as I hold onto to the dream!

Thank you so much. I am sitting in my desk chair crying now. I was almost ready to give up on a dream I wanted all my life because all the feedback was so conflicting and I figured I was no good at this writing gig. Your post has given me a big boost. Thank you, I will believe in my story and myself.Good luck to you and your cowboys.

About Me

Rob Sanders is a writer who teaches and a teacher who writes. He has worked as an educational consultant, editor, editorial manager, product designer, trainer, public speaker, and has been a mentor to many writers. Each day Rob teaches and learns with kids at Mintz Elementary School in Brandon, Florida. His picture books include COWBOY CHRISTMAS (Golden Books/Random House) and OUTER SPACE BEDTIME RACE (Random House Books for Young Readers). HarperCollins has acquired two of Rob's books about Ruby Rose--the first will come out in 2016. And be on the lookout for RODZILLA coming soon from Simon & Schuster.